It was considered extremely violent for its day, and many critics panned it, but it actually played down the violence from what was really going on in Africa at the time. The Dark of the Sun (SIGNED 1st PRINTING of the 1st EDITION) by Wilbur Smith (Wilbur A. Smith) Seller Springbok Books Published 1965 Condition Near Fine Edition 1st Edition Item Price $ 1,675.00. In redemption, he shadows his friends in war to save their lives. One contemporary reviewer was moved to comment that the director's main objective appeared to be to pack as much sadistic violence into the film's two hours as he could. The train, loaded with the diamonds and residents, slowly departs under small arms fire. Have "There Can Be Only One" knowledge unlocked, have Monkey Knowledge enabled, play on a mode other than Sandbox Mode and C.H.I.M.P.S. Critics condemned the film on its original release for its graphic scenes of violence and torture. The sense of the film is overwhelmingly violent; there's no consideration for anything else. The script is based on the second published novel by Wilbur Smith. Why is he a mercenary? Ubi gives Curry a steam train and Congolese government soldiers. Get a sneak peek of the new version of this page. The journey turns out to be a nightmare, softened only by Curry's meeting with Shermaine, a Belgian girl with whom he falls passionately in love. [15] In October, Jim Brown, who had just made The Dirty Dozen for MGM, signed to costar. Please look at the photos to see what I mean. Released 1968. When Curry returns to find his friend dead, he pursues Henlein and kills him after a vicious fight. He casually kills two children for being possible Simba spies and starts making advances towards Claire. However, as the mission is in violation of UN accords, the train is attacked and damaged by a United Nations peacekeeping plane. (1995). Martin, Betty. Keep track of everything you watch; tell your friends. Lawyer Tommy Farrell is a defender of crooks. A historical New Orleans hotel struggles to financially survive while the dramas of its various guests unfold. There's a scene where Taylor fights an ex-Nazi with chain saws. Read 22 reviews from the world's largest community for readers. (1968). Elite commandos Rod Taylor and Jim Brown, mercenaries on a Congo strike mission, tangle with murderous rebels while seeking a fortune in hidden diamonds in Jack Cardiff’s ultra-violent action classic. The German version is misleadingly entitled Katanga, implying the film takes place during the first Congo emergency in 1961–64, when mercenaries like Müller and 'Mad' Mike Hoare were involved. For love. A Tarantino favorite. Build a Sun Temple with appropriate sacrifices (for the best results use $50,000 in 3 out of 4 categories), and then prepare $50,000+ sacrifices for all categories of towers for the True Sun God. Curry's subordinates include his black friend Ruffo and alcoholic Doctor Wreid. The Dark Side of the Sun is a science fiction novel by Terry Pratchett, first published in 1976. It was the 49th most popular movie of the year in France. [4][5] 4 piece Hard Rock Band based out of northern IL Tristan Sheedlo - Guitar & Vocals Morgan Earp - Guitar Luke Sheedlo - Drums Aaron Dennin - Bass Chelsea Quinn Yarbro's vampire hero returns to Transylvania in Dark of the Sun, a novel in the Count Saint-Germain series. Three journalists in a romantic triangle are involved in political intrigue during the last days of the corrupt Somozoa regime in Nicaragua before it falls to a popular revolution in 1979. Intro Aired: May 2016 Curry and Ruffo set out to retrieve the diamonds during the night. † Taylor's fictional character is a light homage to Congo mercenary leader "Mad" Mike Hoare, who led the Congolese 5 Commando during the actual Simba rebellion and was a technical consultant on the film. Dark of the Sun is a great movie with plenty of action, catchy music, and a very good cast. [10], Smith had just written his first published novel, When the Lion Feeds. This FAQ is empty. Take elite commandos, send them on a do-or-die assignment and sit back and watch the action explode. "I knew it was sort of a watershed. It is similar to the work of Isaac Asimov. Title: Most of the film was shot on location in Jamaica using the country's railway system,[17] this took advantage of a working steam train as well as safety and cost-effectiveness. Dark of the Sun (in the UK released under the title The Mercenaries) is a 1968 movie directed by Jack Cardiff about a group of mercenaries sent on a dangerous mission during the Congo war.. But on the path to vengeance he discovers both love and responsibility. Qty: Backorder. Rod Taylor is also a fascinating screen presence, usually he seemed like too much of a nice guy for tough roles but here he's pretty cool. The Dark of the Sun by Wilbur Smith. He decided to quit his job in the South African taxation office, calculating he had enough money in sales and unclaimed leave to not have to work for two years. DSR4. [8][9] Both the book and the film are a fictional account of the Congo Crisis (1960–1966), when Joseph Mobutu seized power during the First Republic of the Congo after national independence from Belgium. This is one of those movies that, if you didn't know exactly when it was made, it would be hard to guess, and there are very few of those types around. From the iconic to the eclectic, relive the most memorable moments from the Oscars red carpet. The film, which was directed by Jack Cardiff, is based on Wilbur Smith's 1965 novel, The Dark of the Sun. Colonel Mostyn of the British Intelligence Service suspects there is a leak in his department and hires an American expatriate to eliminate various targets working for the Soviets. On the subject of violence director Jack Cardiff commented: "Although it was a very violent story, the actual violence happening in the Congo at that time was much more than I could show in my film; in my research I encountered evidence so revolting I was nauseated. Reluctantly, Curry agrees to let the doctor stay behind. TSR Inc, by L. Richard Baker III (1992). Calling him a coward, his girl friend and 3 officer friends give him a white feather. "Dark of the Sun" is based on a novel by Wilbur Smith and was filmed in Jamaica because the Congo posed political and logistical problems. Drama. Henlein takes advantage of his absence to kill Ruffo in the mistaken belief that he has the diamonds. Martin Scorsese and Quentin Tarantino are two of the film's fans. Dark of the Sun (also known as The Mercenaries in the UK) is a 1968 adventure war film starring Rod Taylor, Yvette Mimieux, Jim Brown, and Peter Carsten. A band of mercenaries led by Captain Curry travel through war-torn Congo across deadly terrain, battling rival armies, to steal $50 million in uncut diamonds. In the dark of the sun will you save me a place? As Curry waits anxiously for the vault to open, the Simbas attack the town and the station. The film was a particular influence on Tarantino, who used several tracks from the score for his movie Inglourious Basterds, which features Rod Taylor in a guest role as Winston Churchill. A band of mercenaries led by Captain Curry travel through war-torn Congo across deadly terrain, battling rival armies, to steal $50 million in uncut diamonds. The political and historical background, well, we take that for granted, but it seems strange that these guys are all down in the Congo for different reasons and it's never explained.There is one gripping scene with Rod Taylor and Jim Brown on the train where Brown explains his African heritage. The story about a band of mercenaries sent on a dangerous mission during the Congo Crisis was adapted into a screenplay by Ranald MacDougall. [18] The railway scenes were shot on the line between Frankfield and Albany railway station (where Henlein kills the two children). Stars Jim Brown. In 1961, mercenary Bruce Curry is publicly hired by Congolese President Ubi to rescue European residents from an isolated mining town about to be attacked by rebel Simbas. (monkey knowledge is disabled in these modes). "[11], Although the novel is set against the Baluba rebellion in 1960, the film's screenplay is set during the Simba Rebellion of 1964–65, when mercenaries were recruited by the Congolese government to fight a leftist insurgency. [3] He elaborated: This movie-Rod Taylor vs. the Mau Maus-was the most violent I'd seen up to that time. The Dark of the Sun Bruce Curry sets out with a trainload of mercenaries to relieve a mining town in the heart of the African jungle. The last coach - carrying the diamonds and most of the Europeans - rolls back into the Simba-held town as the rest of the train steams away. Second, Dr Wreid insists he cannot abandon a pregnant woman at a nearby mission hospital. Comedy, Certificate: GP They agree to help them leave town and befriend one of them, a pretty widow called Claire whose husband was murdered by the rebels. Roll 4d6 webpage. It's a truly sadistic movie, but it should be seen. Was this review helpful to you? Dark of the Sun The screenplay rolls right along like the runaway train depicted herein, and the soundtrack is exciting and cool.One of the problems I have with the story is the background of the mercenaries themselves. Valley of Dust and Fire. Los Angeles Times 24 Sep 1966: 23. Dark of the Sun fits into the “mercenary” subgenre of the mission flick, which also includes The Wild Geese (1978), with Richard Burton, Roger Moore, Richard Harris, and Hardy Kruger in combat fatigues, and Christopher Walken in the film version of The Dogs of War (1981). The Dark of the Sun, published in 1965, was his second novel (he’s now up to 33). The first time I had seen Dark Of The Sun was on late night television and it was edited. Bear in mind that some to… Commemorating Rod Taylor, we turn to Dark of the Sun, routinely dismissed as a nasty slice of thick-ear but admired by Scorsese for its unflinching brutality and lean, efficient technique: possibly the best film directed by great cinematographer Jack Cardiff, who otherwise could be said to have squandered years on dreck like Girl on a Motorcycle (lovely to look at, inane and obnoxious) and The Mutations (ugly to … Heist movie, train movie, men-on-a-mission movie: Jack Cardiff’s Congo actioner is lean, rugged, smartly tackling its themes of racism and morality while still being explosively violent. For instance, Rod Taylor's character--where is he from? After the child of wealthy parents gets abducted, the police and a member of the press intervene to assist the parents in their search but end up complicating their impending decisions. He also reluctantly recruits ex-Nazi Henlein because he needs his military expertise and leadership skills. [7] In the English language version, Peter Carsten was dubbed by Paul Frees. The critics complained of the violent content, but today it would hardly raise an eyebrow."[3]. When they run low on fuel, Curry leaves to find more. However, a mortar round destroys the coupling between the last two carriages. 2. But when I saw it on cable, I was very surprised by the violence in the film. I was 30 years of age, single again, and I could take the chance. The Congo. View production, box office, & company info, Harry Belafonte in The World, The Flesh And The Devil Available on Blu-ray From Warner Archive. The answer to everything is "kill."[22]. The characters are all interesting, we just want to know what makes them tick. A 1993 documentary, "Jamaican Railways," shows some behind-the-scenes footage at various locations. In another scene, a train full of refugees has finally escaped the Mau Maus in the valley below-and just as it's about to reach the top of a hill, the power fails, the train goes all the way back down, and the refugees are slaughtered. I'd guess that because of its utter racism, a lot of people would have found it embarrassing, so they just ignored it. Distributor MGM. You must be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin. Dark of the Sun Photos View All Photos (10) Movie Info. Interiors were completed at MGM British Studios, Borehamwood near London. Curry teams up with his friend Ruffo, Doctor Wreid, who's an alcoholic, and Henlein, a sadistic Nazi who left Germany after WWII to work as a mercenary. It also has some great action sequences which look almost too good for a film released in 1968. However, his real mission is to retrieve $50 million of diamonds from a mine company's vault. The Dark of the Sun Lyrics: In the dark of the sun / Will you save me a place? Situated at the heart of sub-Saharan Africa, it is a place where men die for diamonds. When interrupted by Curry, the German attacks Curry with a swagger stick and a chainsaw. "Dark of the Sun /'The Mercenaries (1968)", "FEATURES A golden life crafted from a troubled land", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Dark_of_the_Sun&oldid=1014108775, Films set in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Articles containing explicitly cited English-language text, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 25 March 2021, at 06:39. Director Jack Cardiff was a respected cinematographer who’d shot for legends like Alfred Hitchcock and John Huston. Share. [16], Filming started 16 January 1967. "I hired a caravan, parked it in the mountains, and wrote the second book", he said. A diversionary attack by surviving Congolese soldiers enables them to get the diamonds and escape in vehicles. Certificate: Passed Only Ruffo is able to stop Curry from killing Henlein. [19] The arrival scenes were filmed at Palisadoes Airport (now Norman Manley International) while a private residence within the Blue Mountain range was dressed to look like an African mission station.[20]. But infighting, sadistic rebels and a time lock jeopardize everything. The conflict in Dark of the Sun juxtaposes the anti-colonial struggle in the province of Katanga within the context of the Cold War. Athas.org. BUY NOW First, the diamonds are in a time-locked vault delaying the train's departure. An American travels to India to avenge the murder of his business partner. 158 talking about this. With Rod Taylor, Yvette Mimieux, Peter Carsten, Jim Brown. He might not be a great actor but he has unbeatable on screen intensity. Vicki Gaye encourages him to go straight, but mob king Rico Angelo insists otherwise. Dark of the Sun DVD. The mercenaries reach the town by Ubi's train after surviving an attack from the UN peacekeepers, only to find a number of terrified Westerners who were driven out from their homes by force, including torture, rape and murder, by the Simba rebels. I saw you sail across a river Underneath Orion's sword In your eyes there was a freedom I had never known before [Chorus:] Hey, yeah, yeah, in the dark of the sun We will stand together Yeah we will stand as one in the dark of the sun Action, Certificate: GP The Warner Archive Collection DVD-R of Dark of the Sun is a fine enhanced widescreen transfer of this colorful Panavision show; we're told that Cardiff shared the camerawork with the credited cinematographer Edward Scaife. [14], Rod Taylor signed on to make the film in September 1966 by which time the script had been rewritten by Adrian Spies. Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Show Details. Filmland Events: Henry King to Film Story of Guadalupe. The vampire Saint-Germain, known in this time as Zangi-Ragozh, is peacefully doing business in Asia when the island of Krakatoa explodes in a massive volcanic eruption. Germans kidnap an American major and try to convince him that World War II is over, so that they can get details about the Allied invasion of Europe out of him. MOVIE CALL SHEET: Righteous Bros. to Star After being discredited as a coward, a 19th century seaman lives for only one purpose: to redeem himself. - Order by Phone 1-800-336-4627 From "Dexter" to The Suicide Squad, here are our picks for the reboots and remakes we're most excited for in 2021 and beyond. ISBN 1-56076-316-7. TSR Inc. ISBN 0-7869-0308-2. The story about a band of mercenaries sent on a dangerous mission during the Congo Crisis was adapted into a screenplay by Ranald MacDougall. It is the 6th century of the common era. Using a Simba disguise, Ruffo carries Curry's seemingly lifeless body into the town's hotel, where harrowing scenes depict murder, torture and male rape. Dark Sun Accesory. Canon: Dark Sun. Price: $12.95. Description: London: William Heinemann, 1965 Superb flat-signed copy. The film, which was directed by Jack Cardiff, is based on Wilbur Smith's 1965 novel, The Dark of the Sun. 1968’s Dark of the Sun has been coming into its own as a kind of watershed action film, a picture that presents a real-world problem — political and racial unrest in former African colonies — but treats it as just another place to stage violent escapist thrills. Beyond the Prism Pentad, by Bill Slavicsek. According to Don D'Ammassa, both this and Pratchett's 1981 sci-fi novel Strata spoof parts of Larry Niven 's Ringworld. And for the unholy pleasure of others… Bruce Curry is the leader of a mercenary band with the dubious support of three officers. Dark of the Sun is a top-notch marriage of action and suspense with a solid script (based on Wilbur Smith’s 1965 novel) and great performances, all set against the, then timely, backdrop of the Congo Crisis. At the same time, MGM was filming Graham Greene's The Comedians (1967) in Africa, though the original took place in the Caribbean. DnD Wiki. [12], In December 1964 Ranald MacDougall was working in the script. Critics condemned the film on its original release for its graphic scenes of violence and torture.[3]. At a burned-out farmhouse, they pick up a traumatised woman named Claire, who watched her husband being hacked to death by Simbas. After two years as a Czarist British agent posing as a Russian Commissar, he rescues a Russian countess from her Bolshevik captors. It wasn’t like Sam Peckinpah’s The Wild Bunch, but it could’ve been close. Dark of the Sun book. 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